1. rboxylic
ids

2. GENERAL STRUCTURE OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
R represents the rest of the molecule, which consists of hydrogen, carbon and/or other atoms.
R COOH ~
COOH is known as a “carboxyl” O H
This carbon is always referred to as #1 in the parent chain C O

3. NAMING: CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
Carboxylic acids are named similarly to have alkanes, alkenes and alkynes are named, except the –e ending is replaced by –oic acid. The prefix is assigned based on the length of the carbon parent chain.
Examples:
1-Propynoic Acid
Ethanoic Acid

5. IUPAC NAME
COMMON NAME
BOILING POINT
MELTING POINT
Methanoic Acid
Formic Acid
101°C
8.4°C
Ethanoic Acid
Acetic Acid
118°C
16.6°C
Propanoic Acid
Propionic Acid
141°C
-20.8°C
Butanoic Acid
Butyric Acid
164°C
-5.5°C
Pentanoic Acid
Valeric Acid
186°C
-34.5°C
Hexanoic Acid
Caproic Acid
205°C
-4.0°C
Heptanoic Acid
Enanthic Acid
223°C
-7.5°C
Octanoic Acid
Caprylic Acid
239°C
16.3°C
Nonanoic Acid
Pelargonic Acid
253°C
12.0°C
Decanoic Acid
Capric Acid
219°C
31.0°C

6. NAMING: CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH ATTACHMENTS
Attachments on the parent chain of a carboxylic acid are named the same way that attachments on alkanes are. Use the location number, followed by the name of the attachment.
Examples:
2,2-Dicyclobutylpropanoic Acid
2-Chloropropanoic Acid

8. NAMING: CARBOXYLIC ACIDS ATTACHED TO RINGS
If a carboxylic acid is attached to a ring, simply add –carboxylic acid to the end of the name of the ring. The carbon on that ring that the carboxylic acid is attached to, is always #1 of the parent chain.
Example:
3-Bromocyclopentanecarboxylic Acid

10. NAMING: CARBOXYLATES Examples: Sodium Propanoate Potassium Methanoate
A carboxylate is a salt or ester of carboxylic acids, in which a metal replaces the hydrogen in the carboxyl. To name, replace the –oic acid ending with –ate, following the cation.
Examples:
Sodium Propanoate
Potassium Methanoate 2

12. NAMING: DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS
A dicarboxylic acid is a parent chain containing two carboxyls. Take the name of the parent chain and add –dioic acid to the end of it. When there are attachments, either carboxyl can be considered #1 in the chain.
Example:
Ethanedioic Acid (Oxalic Acid)

14. NAMING: PHENOLIC ACIDS
COOH
Benzoic Acids consist of a carboxyl attached to a benzene. The carbon that the carboxyl is attached to is always #1 in the parent chain. When naming, replace the –ene ending with –oic acid.
Cinnamic Acids consist of a propenoic acid attached to a single benzene. The carbon making the attachment is #1 in the parent chain. To name, replace –benzene with –cinnamic acid.
COOH
cis
COOH
trans

16. Benzoic Acid
9-Anthroic Acid
2-Naphthalic Acid
COOH
COOH
COOH

17. NAMING: PHENOLIC ACIDS CONT.
Acetic Acids are named by taking the name of the benzene structure (either benzene, naphthalene or anthracene) that the ethanoic acid is attached to and adding –acetic acid to the end of it. Attachments are named as per usual.
Benzeneacetic Acid
2-Naphthaleneacetic Acid
COOH
COOH

19. NAMING: DICARBOXYLIC BENZENES
When a benzene has two carboxyl attachments, state the locations of the attachments, followed by the name of the benzene structure (benzene, naphthalene or anthracene). Then, attach –dicarboxylic acid to the end.
Example:
2,4-Naphtalenedicarboxylic Acid
COOH
COOH

21. SYNTHESIS
Synthesis is the formation of carboxylic acids using simpler compounds. Different reactants are required depending on if you’re using alcohols, aldehydes, alkenes or aromatics.

23. HYDROLYSIS
Hydrolysis is the chemical breakdown of a compound due to a reaction with water. There are three kinds of hydrolysis, based on the pH value of the water involved. There is hydrolysis using neutral water. There is hydrolysis using acidic water, and there is hydrolysis using basic water. Hydrolysis can form carboxylic acids from acids, anhydrides, esters or amides.

24. NEUTRAL WATER

25. ACIDIC WATER

26. BASIC WATER

27. ESTERS O O C R’ OH C H2O R OH R OR’
Esters of carboxylic acids are formed by the double replacement of one carboxylic acid and one alcohol. The –OH in the carboxyl is replaced by the –OR in the alcohol, and H2O is formed along with it. O O C R’ OH C
H2O R OH R
OR’

28. SALTS
Due to enhanced acidity, carboxylic acids can combine with bases to form ionic salts. When they combine with alkali metal hydroxides or simple amines, they tend to have more pronounced ionic structures and are more soluble. However, when reacting with heavier metals such as lead or silver, it results in less soluble, more covalent-structured products.

29. USES FOR CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
• They make up a series of fatty acids that help maintain cell membranes and control nutrient use.
• Used for the manufacturing of soaps, as soaps are often sodium or potassium salts of higher fatty acids.
•They’re used in the production of food products and soft drinks. As examples, acetic acid is used to make vinegar and sodium salts are used in preservatives

30. • Carboxylic acids are used in many different kinds of drugs, such as phenacetin and aspirin.
• They’re often used in the production of dyes. They’re also used in perfumes, due to their strong smell.
•Acetic acids are used as coagulants in the manufacturing of rubber.

31. BIBLIOGRAPHY